Provo station (Utah Transit Authority)

Description

The station is at 690 South University Avenue U.S. Route 189 on 15 acres and covers a two city block area between Freedom Boulevard (200 West) and University Avenue. It is fairly easily accessed from I-15 by way of either the University Avenue or Provo Center Street (SR 114) interchanges. Posted street signs direct both northbound and southbound drivers on University Avenue to access the station from 920 South and then 100 East, however, this route is best used for departing the station for northbound University Avenue (and thereby taking advantage of the traffic light to make the left hand turn onto northbound University Avenue). The easiest access from northbound University Avenue is to keep to the far right after passing 920 North and pass to the right of the viaduct and then turn left under the viaduct and directly into the station's parking lot. From southbound University Avenue, simply turn right at 780 South (at the bottom of the viaduct) and proceed 750 South and then directly into the Station's parking lot. The path to the station via 200 W is sometimes blocked by Union Pacific trains forcing the use of the viaduct.

The station has a Park and Ride lot with over 800 free parking spaces available. The station is one block east of the Provo Amtrak Station, which is a stop for the California Zephyr. While there are several retail business (including fast food restaurants) just south of the station, it is within walking distance of downtown Provo. The station is within the Quiet Zone, so all trains (including Amtrak's and Union Pacific's) do not routinely sound their horns when approaching public crossings within this corridor. The station opened, along with the rest of FrontRunner South, on 10 December 2012 and is operated by Utah Transit Authority.

The Provo FrontRunner Station is the main part of the Provo Intermodal Center. UTA refers to it as an intermodal center because it plans on having a MAX bus rapid transit (BRT) line (Provo Orem MAX) connect at the intermodal center upon completion of that line.

All of UTA's TRAX and FrontRunner trains and stations, as well as all fixed route buses, are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act and are therefore accessible to those with disabilities. Since not all FrontRunner passenger cars are wheelchair accessible, signage at the stations, on the passenger platforms, and on the passenger cars clearly show accessibility options. In addition, each train has one or more Train Hosts available to provide assistance as may be needed, including the placement of ramps for wheelchair boarding. In accordance with the Utah Clean Air Act and UTA ordinance, "smoking is prohibited on UTA vehicles as well as UTA bus stops, TRAX stations, and FrontRunner stations".

Future

Having completed Phase One of the Provo Intermodal Center which includes the FrontRunner station, the local and intra-county bus stops, and the Park and Ride lot, UTA anticipates the completion of Phase Two by in 2014–15 and Phase Three in 2014–15. Phase Two will include accommodations for the Provo Orem MAX as well as a parking structure (to be built on the northeast corner of the Park and Ride lot and adjacent to the University Avenue viaduct). Phase Three is anticipated to include mixed-use, transit oriented development (TOD). However, unlike the TOD at other stations (such as Station Park at the Farmington Station), UTA plans to include these facilities within the confines of the intermodal center, rather than just close by.

FrontRunner

On weekdays the FrontRunner has about twenty-three round trips between Ogden and Provo (through Salt Lake City) and about five more round trips between Ogden and Downtown Salt Lake City. On Saturdays there are only nineteen round trips between Ogden and Provo. Trains run hourly from about 4:30 am to just after midnight on weekdays (with additional half hour runs for the morning and evening commutes). Saturdays have hourly runs from about 6:00 am to 2:30 am Sunday morning. As of August 2013 the FrontRunner does not run on Sundays or holidays. Each weekday, service is extended to Pleasant View Station with two trains picking up (no dropping off) passengers early in the morning and two more trains picking up and dropping off passengers in the evening.

Train schedule

On weekdays the first (northbound) FrontRunner train (to the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center) leaves the Provo Station at about 4:45 am, with the last train leaving at 10:20 pm. The first, last, and only trains that go as far as north as the Pleasant View Station leave at 4:20 pm and 5:20 pm.

On Saturdays the first (northbound) train leaves at about 7:45 am and the last train leaves at 1:20 am (early Sunday morning). However, the last train only goes as far north as the North Temple Bridge/Guadalupe Station; the last train to the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center leaves at 10:50 pm.

Bus connections

Bus routes are current as of Change Day, 8 December 2013.